The first storey in Nigeria located in Badagry, Lagos State, recorded 7,433 visitors from January to July 2017.

Hodonu Daniel, officer in charge of the building, said in Badagry that tourists that visited the 171-year-old structure in the first half of 2017 were higher than those that did within the same period in 2016.

Foundation of the building was laid in 1842 and was completed in 1845.

Daniel said, “We have been able to attract more tourists to this site because of its proper maintenance and our ability to preserve its originality.

“In the first six months of 2016; 3,767 people visited the monument compared to 7,433 visitors and tourists that visited in the first six months of this year.

“We are certain that the statistics will increase in the other half of the year due to the historic nature of the site and the willingness of people to always visit.’’

He advised Nigerians to be more patriotic by visiting the various monuments in the country.

“Nigerians should imbibe the habit of visiting the various museums and monuments in the country in order to boost tourism development in the country.

“Many Nigerians prefer to visit foreign countries’ monuments but forgetting that one of the ways to improve tourism in the country is by patronising our monuments,’’ he said.

Daniel advised the Federal Government to support the management in giving the building a facelift.

NAN